A Coastal Drive from Sydney to Melbourne

A coastal drive from Sydney to Melbourne is one of the most scenic road trips you can take in Australia. This journey, known as the “Grand Pacific Drive” or “Princes Highway route”, takes you along some of the most stunning coastal landscapes, charming towns, and natural attractions. Here’s a suggested itinerary:

 Day 1: Sydney to Jervis Bay (Approx. 200 km / 2.5 hours)

-Highlights : Begin your journey south by heading through the Royal National Park, where you can stop at the Bald Hill Lookout for panoramic views. Continue along the Sea Cliff Bridge, an iconic coastal drive section. 

-Stop: Wollongong for a coffee and beach views.

-Destination: Jervis Bay offers stunning white-sand beaches like Hyams Beach, and you can explore the Booderee National Park.

Day 2: Jervis Bay to Batemans Bay (Approx. 140 km / 1.5 hours)

-Highlights: Drive further south and stop by Huskisson or  Vincentia for dolphin or whale watching cruises.

-Stop: Ulladulla, a seaside town known for its beaches and harbor. 

-Destination: Batemans Bay, where you can visit nearby Murramarang National Park for kangaroo spotting on the beach or take a stroll along Clyde River.

Day 3: Batemans Bay to Narooma (Approx. 100 km / 1.5 hours)

-Highlights: This leg of the journey offers lush coastal scenery and more beautiful beaches.

-Stop: Moruya for its peaceful riverside setting, or Broulee Island for nature walks.

-Destination: Narooma, famous for the Australia Rock formation, and nearby Montague Island, where you can take a boat trip to see seals and penguins.

Day 4: Narooma to Merimbula (Approx. 110 km / 1.5 hours)

-Highlights: This stretch takes you through some more relaxed seaside towns with pristine environments.

- Stop: Tilba Tilba, a heritage town full of crafts and traditional architecture.

- Destination: Merimbula, which offers lakes, beaches, and bushwalking. Don’t miss Pambula Beach and  Ben Boyd National Park for coastal walks.

 Day 5: Merimbula to Lakes Entrance (Approx. 270 km / 3.5 hours)

- Highlights: Crossing into Victoria, you'll start to see the Gippsland Lakes region.

- Stop: Eden, where you can learn about the local whaling history and spot whales in season (May-November).

- Destination: Lakes Entrance, known for its extensive lake system and beautiful beaches. A boat trip or a walk along the Ninety Mile Beach is a must.

 Day 6: Lakes Entrance to Wilsons Promontory (Approx. 220 km / 3 hours)

- Highlights: Explore the Gippsland coast with stops at quiet fishing villages.

- Destination: Wilsons Promontory National Park, one of Victoria’s best-loved nature reserves, with hiking trails, wildlife (kangaroos, emus, wombats), and breathtaking beaches like Squeaky Beach. 🏖️ 

Day 7: Wilsons Promontory to Melbourne (Approx. 220 km / 3 hours)

- Highlights: Enjoy the final stretch, with opportunities for coastal views and countryside scenery.

- Stop: Inverloch or Phillip Island for penguin viewing (if you have extra time).

- Destination:  Melbourne, where you can end your journey with the sights and sounds of the city.

 Important Tips:

- Best time to travel: Spring (September-November) and Autumn (March-May) are ideal for pleasant weather and wildlife viewing.

- Wildlife : Look out for kangaroos, wombats, and dolphins along the way.

- Accommodation: Options range from holiday parks to motels, and luxury coastal retreats. Pre-book during peak seasons.

This scenic drive is perfect if you enjoy coastal views, wildlife, and charming small towns!

MEDIA RELEASE AIR NIUGINI LAUNCHES KUMUL CLUB

Air Niugini is pleased to announce the rebranding of its esteemed Executive club to a fresh new look, vibrant Kumul club with a new logo and new membership cards.

The launch event took place in Port Moresby last night (Tuesday 24th Sept).

The enriched Kumul Club under the airline’s Destinations Loyalty Program demonstrates Air Niugini’s commitment to adding value and recognising its valued, loyal customers.

In launching the new Kumul club, Air Niugini’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Gary Seddon said the event marks a journey not only of rebranding but also a new image and destinations for Air Niugini.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for Air Niugini to rebrand with a new look to match where we want to go as an airline. However, it’s not just about rebranding, re-fleeting and service availability, but also about culture and attitude and recognising that we can do a bit more to make your journey with us more enjoyable.”

The new look Kumul club has three distinguished tiers, firstly the Kumul Club Premium - Formerly known as Executive Club Gold, this elite tier offers enhanced privileges and unparalleled perks for the club’s most esteemed members. This is followed by Kumul Club Domestic - Formerly known as Executive Club Silver, this tier caters to frequent domestic travellers, providing tailored benefits to enrich their journey within Papua New Guinea. Lastly and not the least, Kumul Club Junior – Formerly known as Minors Club, this tier caters for children between the ages of 11 – 17 years. When travelling alone for school or holidays, they can enjoy the safety and comfort of our Kumul lounges, as well as other benefits similar to the Kumul Club Domestic tier.

Apart from rebranding, Air Niugini also introduced the Status Points system, the airline’s way of recognizing and rewarding loyal members based on their travel. Under Status Points, customers can accumulate points together with the Destinations Loyalty Points to reach the different Kumul club membership tiers every time they travel Air Niugini. Previously, this was only done for travel.

Status Points complements the existing rewards points system, allowing members to achieve elite status faster and enjoy more exclusive benefits.

There is no change to the annual membership fees for the new Kumul club. Members will continue to have access to all domestic lounges in PNG and overseas partner lounges. The domestic lounges include Port Moresby, Lae, Rabaul, Mt Hagen, Madang, Hoskins, Kavieng, Wewak, Vanimo, Manus and Goroka, while international partner lounges include Cairns (Escape lounge), Brisbane (Qantas Lounge), Sydney (Qantas lounge), Manila (PAGSS lounge), Singapore (SAT Premier lounge), Hong Kong (Plaza Premium lounge), Nadi (Fiji Airways Tabua lounge) and Honiara (Belama lounge).

Air Niugini’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mr David Glover said the Kumul club members will also enjoy improved baggage allowances with plans for new lounges be opened up soon.

“Further enhancements will be rolled out in the second half of October which includes virtual cards, family membership, statement downloads, online claims for missing points, online membership payments. Our members also have access to exclusive discounts with our partners including Hannah’s Beauty Box and Lamana hotel.” Mr Glover said

Air Niugini’s Executive Manager, Customer Engagement Ms Lisa Hill said, transformation is not only about a new look and enhancements but also the broader strategy to improve the customer experience holistically across the entire airline.

Ms Hill who joined Air Niugini recently has 30 plus years experience in customer service across various industries. She said Kumul club is part of a comprehensive approach Air Niugini is taking to transform its services.

Ms Hill said, “And this includes the frontliners who greet you at check-in and board you onto our aircraft, to those working tirelessly behind the scenes, we are all collaborating to ensure that we not only meet but exceed your expectations. We also acknowledge that these improvements may not happen overnight, rest assured that we are listening to your feedback. We understand your needs and concerns, and we are taking them seriously. 

“Every team member, from the ground staff to the executives, is aligned with our promise to not only serve you with care and excellence but be accountable for service improvements. "

The Kumul club offers a range of exclusive services and benefits that supports members every step of the journey from priority check-in to priority boarding, advance pre-seating, priority waitlist, lounge access and improved baggage allowance.

“The rebranding of the Kumul Club aligns with the iconic Bird of Paradise, which symbolizes freedom, travel, and connection—core elements of Air Niugini’s mission. Just as the Kumul bird represents the rich cultural heritage of Papua New Guinea, so too do we aspire to reflect the beauty and warmth of our nation in every interaction with you.” Ms Hill concluded

Ends…//

Corporate Communications Department

Wednesday 25th September, 2025

Letter: Very unhelpful Air Niugini employee

I AM not happy with the Air Niugini service I received at the Goroka airport check-in counter last week.

I checked in online at least 10 hours before my flight back to Port Moresby, which was originally scheduled for 8.25am.

I received an email notification three hours later informing me that the flight had been rescheduled to 2.30pm departure.

I arrived at the airport at about 1pm, a full two-and-half hours before the rescheduled departure time.

However, the check-in agent informed me that check-in had already closed.

I explained that I had completed my online check-in and only needed a manual boarding pass.

The agent insisted that they were only doing manual check-ins due to a system outage at the Goroka office.

Despite my repeated explanations that I had successfully checked in online using Air Niugini’s own system, the officer refused to assist me and became increasingly argumentative and unhelpful.

I was forced to seek assistance at the customer service counter, where a helpful gentleman named Freddy was able to confirm that my three seats were still available.

He advised me to return to the check-in counter to receive my manual boarding pass.

However, upon returning to the check-in counter, the same officer instructed me to go back to customer service, causing further frustration and delay.

This experience was incredibly frustrating and reflects poorly on Air Niugini’s customer service standards.

The check-in agent’s behaviour was unprofessional and unaccommodating, and his lack of knowledge regarding the airline’s systems and procedures was concerning.

I urge you to address this issue and provide necessary training to your staff, particularly regarding online check-in procedures and handling system outages.

I also hope that you will take steps to improve the overall customer service experience at Goroka airport.

James Wila